Recommended Resources

Trail-Specific Recommended Resources

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published Apr 2020

Five Reasons Trail Research Matters

by Taylor Goodrich with American Trails

Trails are invaluable assets to any community, and when it comes to procuring funding, building coalitions, providing the best trail access, and more, trail research is one of the best tools available for showing that worth.


Jun 25, 2020

The Greenway Imperative: A Call to Action

The impact of COVID-19 has heightened the role that greenways and conserved greenspace play in providing critically important outdoor space for human activity, while at the same time promoting public health, safety, and well-being.


published Jun 2020

Sustainable Advantage

by Aaron Wilcher, Fran Doherty

An in-depth exploration of outdoor recreation in rural California.


May 19, 2016

Trails and Towns Together

Efforts to link “trail-to-town” have played a part in remaking communities. This webinar will include a case study of the first known “trail town” initiative - the Trail Town Program® along the Great Allegheny Passage.


published Sep 2021

RTP - Workforce Development, Equity, and Climate Resiliency

The Recreational Trails Program directly addresses our desire to put young people to work, provide equitable access to nature, and provide resilient responses to natural disasters


published Aug 2015

The Economic Impact of Greenways and Multi-Use Trails

A review of literature prepared as part of the Naugatuck River Greenway Economic Impact Study August, 2015


published Jul 2020

The Health Benefits of Motorized Trail Riding

by Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF)

Trail Riding promotes physical activity in those who might otherwise forego exercise altogether. All physical activity is beneficial.


published Jan 2009

Report on Equestrian Access on Federal Land

A study by the American Horse Council (2009) to gather information about trail closures or attempted trail closures on federal public lands.


published Aug 2008

Economic Benefits of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System

by Karen Umphress with UP! Outside

An interview with Bill Reed, Marketing Specialist for the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority.


published Jan 2020

Economic and Health Benefits of Walking, Hiking, and Bicycling on Recreational Trails in Washington State

by Washington Recreation and Conservation Office

Every county in Washington State benefits from walkers, runners, bikers, and backpackers using our beautiful trail systems. Ninety percent of Washington residents participate in non-motorized recreation annually.


published Aug 2017

Improving Public Health through Public Parks and Trails

by U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Parks and trail corridors have been important for public health in the United States for more than 100 years.


published Jun 1999

Economic Benefits of Trails

This fact sheet provides researched facts about trail development in Canada including trail use, the money spent by trail users, statistics on job creation related to trail development, adjacent land values and the economic impact of new money to a community when trails are developed.